Vatican Slams Jerusalem (Gay) Pride March

[ruggerson]

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/10633

Hassan Mirza, GAY.COM
Thursday 9 November, 2006

The Pope is apparently on the side of violent ultra Orthodox Jews who have rioted all week in response to Friday’s much-anticipated Jerusalem Pride march.

The Vatican has joined a coalition of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders who have collectively condemned The Jerusalem March of Tolerance and Pride, planned for the 10th of November, which will be heavily guarded by police forces.

In a letter to Israel’s foreign Ministry, the Vatican urged Israeli authorities to withdraw permission for the parade, which is expected to attract more than 8000 people, according to Reuters.

"It is with bitterness that we have learned that the day after tomorrow, November 10, 2006, there is scheduled in Jerusalem a so-called 'gay pride parade'. The Holy See has reiterated on many occasions that the right to freedom of expression, sanctioned by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is subject to just limits, in particular when the exercise of this right would offend the religious sentiments of believers. It is clear that the gay parade scheduled to take place in Jerusalem will prove offensive to the great majority of Jews, Muslims and Christians, given the sacred character of the City of Jerusalem."

(more)

[knight_of_the_star]

1. What a shocker

Last time I checked freedom of expression doesn't have such limits.

[Telly Savalas]

2. There are hundreds of millions of people in the world in deep poverty

And I don't mean "not being able to pay the cable bill" poverty. I'm talking about "seven year old kid in Africa whose parents died of AIDS and isn't sure where her next meal is coming from" type poverty.

But all the fucking Vatican can worry about is that some folks in Jerusalem want to take a break from the tear gas, rock-throwing, and rubber bullets to have a parade.

What a fucking joke.

[msongs]

3. dear pope benedict, were you ever in the hitler youth? nt

[BootinUp]

4. I'll bet they listen.

NOT.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Many of those "believers" are actually gays, lesbians, and transgender

people that strongly believe in their faith while rejecting the intolerance of the Jihadists among the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian religion.

The problem with the Vatican, as it is with Christian fundamentalists and the ultra-Orthodox, is that they think that they alone are pleasing to their gods. a god that they have fashion into their own intolerant image.

[arewenotdemo]

13. and IMO those believers REALLY need to look for a new "home"

For a start, one that DOESN'T revile them and condemn them to hell?

[sarge43]

6. How's that investigation of pedophile clergy coming along Your Holiness?

Shouldn't you be attending to your own house?

[rpannier]

7. Gee...the world is coming together

The Vatican, al Qaeda, the taliban, the American Taliban, ultraviolent Orthodox Jews, various other hate groups around the world.

Too bad they couldn't come together to do something like...

1) Stop Genocide Around the World
2) Create World Peace
3) Bring about economic justice
4) Provide quality health care to the poor
5) Clean up the environment

But as usual...the fundie types have no time to do those things. They're too busy purifying the world by using fire.

[Az_lefty]

8. Man, sometimes it's better to just stay out of other peoples business.

[xchrom]

9. the pope can kiss my gay christian ass.

[BigDDem]

10. Is the Vatican sponsoring the Pedophile Parade?

[gratuitous]

11. Speak for yourself, Benny

A gay pride parade in Jerusalem does not offend the religious sentiments of this believer: It expresses my religious sentiment, grounded in tradition, history, and the Bible.

And while I won't be marching in Jerusalem, I will be marching once again next year in my home town for gay rights, and advocating for the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, intersexed and questioning persons in the life of the community and congregation.

By all means speak your piece, sir; just don't think that you're speaking on behalf of all believers.

[Bonobo]

12. Here's what Pete Townshend (The Who) has to say about the Pope:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5KD04pOX38

THE MAN IN THE PURPLE DRESS
How dare you wear a robe to preside
How dare you cover your head to hide
Your face from God

How dare you smile from behind your beard
To hide the fact your heart's severe
And wave your rod

How dare you be the one to assess
Me in this God-forsaken mess
You, a man, in a purple dress

A man in a purple dress

When you place your frown
Between my God and prayer
However grand your crown
Or dignified your hair

Men above men, all prats
In your high hats

You priest, you mullah so high
You Pope, you wise rabbi

You're invisible to me
Like vapor on the sea

I lovingly mock you noble lords
We all dress up for grand awards
I do that as well...

I dare condemn your fashion sense
At least you're not astride the fence
That would not sell...

But I will deliver this address
Your souls conditioned don't impress
You, a man, in a purple dress

A man in a purple dress